Compare towns
Dudley vs Heath vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dudley | Heath | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
765Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Heath and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Heath and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
— | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.